By Staff
September 12th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Ok, so summer is officially coming to a close. But that doesn’t mean that all the fun has to end just yet. There are still lots of things that you can do in the neighbourhood and in your backyard to keep the family entertained and keep everyone going before the snow comes.
Fall colours – brilliant – to be enjoyed
People dread the end of summer, but fall can actually be the most beautiful and fun-filled season of all. The leaves changing colours and falling into big, rainbow-filled piles. Pumpkins growing in pumpkin patches, waiting to be collected and made into jack-o-lanterns. Hot cocoa that you can sip by a bonfire as the nights grow nippier. There are plenty of things that you can do to take advantage of fall and savor all that it has to offer. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular fall activities that people are taking on this season.
Halloween backyard party
Why not transform your yard into a Halloween paradise? Even if it gets a bit nippy at night in the fall, you can have a bonfire and set up a couple of heat lamps. Think about your decor: You can decorate your outdoor patio doors with spider webs, and cut out cardboard witches to hang from the trees. Use some old sheets to make ghosts out of, and hang them around the yard.
You can make your catering part of the decor, as well. Halloween dishes can be some of the most fun and creative that you put together all year. Make some dishes covered in “blood” using ketchup, or use olives to create “eyeball” hors d’oeuvres.
And of course don’t forget the pumpkins! There are tons of things you can do with pumpkins. First of all, make a jack-o-lantern carving contest part of your main event. You can showcase all the entries after the carving is complete, and the most creative entrant can win a spooky prize in the end.
Skeletons have always been a part of Halloween – get creative and think of the many ways they can be used in your home
If you’ve got a pool, why not bring it into the excitement? There are lots of ways that you can decorate your pool to give it a fall look. How about floating skeletons to add to your spooky theme? Maybe get a fog machine to provide a spiffed-up atmosphere?
All this will set the perfect stage for your guests. The array of costumes that fill the yard will provide photo-perfect moments. Just be sure you have your phone on the night setting!
Activities in the neighbourhood
Beyond your home, there are also plenty of ways to take advantage of fall around your neighbourhood. Collecting leaves, acorns, and other fall treasures is a favourite for many. Take the kids on a nature walk and see what you can collect. Once you’re done, there are some fun crafts that you can do to display your collections.
Gather pine cones in the fall and paint them to be used as decorations during Christmas.
Have you ever painted acorns and pinecones? This can be a great way to immortalize fall and add to your home decor until it’s time for Christmas. Find some fun colors that will give your collection a special glow, and arrange your pieces in an artistic display to keep in a special place in the living room.
Another fall favourite is making leaf prints. Find some plain paper – perhaps you can use several sheets to create a montage of images – and glue your leaves on in different arrangements. Try to use a variety of colours and leaf types to give yourself a nice variety.
A related craft is making leaf presses. This can be a way to keep your leaves for a long time, even after they get old. You’ll want to choose leaves that are relatively flat so they don’t crumble and lose important parts. Find a big, heavy book and lay the leaves carefully between two sheets. It is recommended to add moisture to the leaves before you insert them. If you use wax paper, this is the best method to preserve your leaves for a long time.
Apple picking
No fall would be complete without apple picking. You can take the family to the nearest orchard and fill up on whatever type each of you prefers. Once you’ve assembled your choice pics, there are lots of things that you can do with them.
Bobbing for apples dates back to the 14th century, and it has ties to courting rituals.
Part of your Halloween night can include bobbing for apples. This timeless tradition never gets old and is fun for all ages. You can also use apples to decorate other parts of your holiday scene, especially if you carve some of them to go with your jack-o-lantern display.
And, of course, there are countless dishes you can make with apples. Both apple and pumpkin pies will suit your hungry partygoers just perfectly. How about trying your hand at making your own apple cider? Hot or cold, it can be something that the whole family will love. Add a stick of cinnamon, and you’ve got the perfect complement to that evening party.
Don’t let fall slip by
Even though we all dread the end of summer, we shouldn’t let fall simply go by without taking advantage of all that it has to offer. There are countless activities, holiday traditions, and food ideas that you can take part in that will be fun for the whole family and give you happy times to remember.
So bundle up, if necessary, go out and pick your choice pumpkin, and think of the perfect Halloween costume!
